Clamp type explosion connector



Dec. 30, 1969 D. T. JAMES E CLAMP TYPE EXPLOSION CONNECTOR 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 13, 1967 r j I, P/ W5 W [PQW #40 k4 [N a /7 4Z WM flflW Dec. 30. 1969 D. T. JAMES ET AL CLAMP TYPE EXPLOSIONCONNECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1967 r 5 4: F5 i mm a I #AM Mr W Z a v M W v MMM wwp W flV a w Dec. 30, 1969 -r JAMES ET AL 3,487,161

CLAMP TYPE EXPLOSION CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 13, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 3United States Patent 3,487,161 CLAMP TYPE EXPLOSION CONNECTOR David T.James, De Kalb, and Donald E. Krup, Elgin,

Ill., 'assignors to Ideal Industries, Inc., Sycamore, 11].,

a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 682,164 Int. Cl.H02g 15/08 U.S. Cl. 174-94 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Aconnector for attachment to at least one wire or cable or the likeincluding a generally non deformable elongated member having a passageextending at least part way therethrough and adapted to receive at leastone wire or cable and an expandable envelope adapted to fit into saidpassageway and containing an explosive which will, upon ignition, expandsaid envelope into locking engagement with said wire and said generallynondeformable member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an explosive actuatedconnector for attachment to one or more wires and in particular to sucha connector for joining two or more Wires which does not requirethreading of the wires through the connector.

An object of this invention is a connector assembly which uses anexpandable envelope to secure a generally non-deformable member to thewires to be joined together.

Another object is a non-deformable member for connecting wires togetherhaving a generally longitudinal opening to receive the wires and anexplosive actuated expandable member to close the opening and secure thewires to the non-deformable member and to one another.

Another object is a non-deformable member for connecting wires having alongitudinally extending opening to receive the wires and a closuremember insertable in the opening and lockable therein by the expansionof an expandable member actuated by an explosive.

Other objects will be found in the following specification, laims anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated more orless diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of a connector of this inventioncontaining the wires to be connected;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of a connector and wires of the typeshown in FIGURE 1 after actuation of the explosive charge;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the enclosure member taken along line 33 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the connector of FIGURE 1with parts broken away for clarity;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of a modified form of connector;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of yet another modified form ofconnector;

FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view of yet another modified form ofconnector;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of yet another modified form ofconnector;

FIGURE 9 is an end elevational view of yet another modified form ofconnector;

FIGURE 10 is an end elevational view of yet another modified form ofconnector;

FIGURE 11 is an end elevational View of yet another modified form ofconnector;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of a completed connection for usein wet locations;

3,48 7,161 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of anend-type connector;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a modified end connector;

FIGURE 15 is an end elevational view of a modified form of a connectorsimilar to that shown in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 16 is an end elevational view of yet another modified form ofconnector; and

FIGURE 17 is a top plan view of the connector of FIGURE 16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The connector of this inventionincludes a body or enclosure member to receive the wires, cables or rodsto be connected, a bridge member, where necessary to cover the openingin the body through which the wires, cables or rods are received, anenvelope containing an explosive which is positioned in the body and anignitor for the explosive. FIGURES 1 to 4 show one embodiment of theinvention wherein the body is a non-deformable member 21 of generallyU-shaped cross-section having a base portion 23 and side walls 25. Thetops of the side walls have downturned portions 27 which define alongitudinal opening 29 into the member. The bridging member 31 is aflat generally rectangular piece of material, preferably metal, havingfolded over opposite ends 33. Parallel slots 35 are formed in onesurface of this member and are adapted to receive projections 37 formedon the turned down portions 27 of the side walls of the non-deformablebody member 21.

An envelope 39 containing an explosive 41 is designed to fit .into andbe supported by the folded under ends 33 of the bridging member 31. Theenvelope is in the form of a flattened metallic tube having ends 43folded over to provide a seal at each end thereof. The explosive 41 ispreferably a deflagrating type of single or double base nitrocellulosein the form of a tape. However, some detonating types of explosives andmixed types may also be used and may be in the form of powders orplastics.

The ignitor 45 may be formed of powdered metals and powdered metaloxides or other easily ignitable materials that will give offconsiderable heat upon being set off. The ignitors may be also of thepercussion or electrically actuated types. In any event, the ignitorwill fit in an opening 47 in the bridging member 31 which opening islocated between the slots and extends through the bridging member sothat the heat from the ignitor will impinge upon the envelope 39 forsetting oif the explosive 41 contained in this envelope.

Laterally extending ridges 49 may be formed in the base portion 23 ofthe non-deformable member 21 to provide gripping surfaces to preventlongitudinal movement of the wires positioned in the non-deformablemember. An ignitor is sealed in place by a ring 51 which may be a pieceof paper cemented to the bridging member 31. The ring and ignitor areprotected by a sealing element 53 which may be a tough protective pieceof paper cemented in place.

The connector is used by placing the wires 55 to be connected into thenon-deformable member 21 through the longitudinal opening 29. Thebridging member 31, in which 'the envelope 39 is supported by the turnedunder ends 43, is positioned in the member 21 with the slots 35receiving the projections 37 of the down turned portions 27 of the sidewalls 25. The bridging member may be held in position by an adhesive orby a press fit connection between the projections 37 and the slots 35.The protective covering 53 is then removed from the ignitor 45 and theignitor is set ofl by appropriate means.

The heat produced by the operation of the ignitor heats the explosive 41in the envelope 39 to its ignition temperature. Upon ignition of theexplosive, the pressure in the envelope 39 increases rapidly in the caseof a deflagrant and expands the envelope against the bridging member 31,the non-deformable member 21 and the wires 55 to form a connectionbetween the. body and the wires. The envelope 39 also expands into theopening 47 to lock itself in place and prevent longitudinal shiftingthereof relative to the body. The wires 55 are forced to deform betweenthe ridges 49 to lock these wires against longitudinal move.- mentrelative to the member 21. When a detonating explosive is utilized, thegas pressure and the shock of detonation expand the envelope against thebridging member, the non-deformable member and the. wires.

A modified embodiment of the connector of this invention is shown inFIGURE 5. In this emobdiment, the body is a non-deformable member 61 ofgenerally U-shaped cross-section having a base portion 63 and side walls65 with opposed longitudinally extending slots 67 formed in the sidewalls. The slots receive a bridging member 69 and an explosivecontaining envelope 71. The base portion 63 of the member has alongitudinally extending ridge 73 formed in the center thereof. Keyingslots 75 are formed in the side walls 65 facing the longitudinal opening77 defined by the side walls 65. As in the previously describedembodiment, the bridging member 69 is provided with an ignitor opening79 adapted to receive an ignitor (not shown).

Wires 83 and 85, which are to be connected to each other, are insertedinto the body 61 through the longitudinally extending opening 77 and arepositioned on oppo-site sides of the longitudinally extending ridge 73.It should be noted that this connector is primarily intended formechanical applications where it is not necessary or desirable for thewires 83 and 85 to be held in contact with one another, hence theprovision of the ridge 73. After the wires are inserted in thenon-deformable member 61, the bridging member 69 and envelope 71 areslid into position in the longitudinally extending slots 67 and theignitor is set off to ignite the explosive in the envelope and to expandthe envelope into crimping engagement with the wires. Upon expansion,the envelope 71 will swell into the keying slots 75 in the side walls 65to prevent longitudinal movement of the envelope or bridging member 69relative to the U-shaped member 6-1.

A connector 87 similar to the connector of FIGURE is shown in FIGURE 6and differs essentially therefrom in that the ridge in the base of theU-shaped non-deformable member has been eliminated so that the wiresinserted in this member will contact one another. A connector of thistype may be used where it is desirable that the wires contact oneanother for electrical continuity, etc.

A connector similar to the connector shown in FIGURE 5 is depicted inFIGURE 7. In this connector, the generally non-deformable member 89 isformed having a width between its side walls sufiicient for only onewire so that the wires will be placed therein on top of and in contactwith one another. This form of connector may be particularly useful whena good electrical connection between the wires is needed, as it willassure that the wires contact each other.

A form of clamp-type connector which eliminates a bridging member isshown in FIGURE 8. In this embodiment, the non-deformable member 101 hasa ring-shaped cross-section that is almost annular. The side Walls 103of this member have converging portions 105 which are spaced apart todefine a longitudinal passage 106 large enough to permit the insertionof only a single wire at a time into the space 107 between the. sidewalls 103. Slots 109 are formed in the side walls 103 to receive theenvelope 111 which is slid therein. An opening 113 extends through oneof the converging portions 105 of the side walls 103 to receive. anignitor 115. The expansion of the envelope 111 is resisted by theconverging portions of the side walls and only a small portion of theenvelope will extend into the passage 106 upon expansion of theenvelope.

FIGURE 9 shows a connector for wires having at least one free end. Inthis connector, the non-deformable member 121 is ring-shaped incross-section so that the wires to be connected must be inserted intothe opening or bore 123 from the ends of the non-deformable member. Asin the connector of FIGURE 8, slots 125, which extend longitudinally ofthe member, are provided in the walls 127 thereof to receive and hold anenvelope 129. An opening 131 extends through the wall of thisring-shaped member adjacent the envelope to receive an ignitor 133. Inthe event that the non-deformable member 121 is made of an electricallynon-conductive material or of a material having relatively poorconductive characteristics, it may be desirable to provide a conductiveliner 135 to engage the wires to be inserted in the bore 123. In thisemobdieither before or after the wires are inserted in the bore sincethe wires are inserted from the ends of the bore rather than through alogitudinal opening in the non-deformable member as in the previouslyillustrated connectors.

A form of connector in which the bridging member is positioned separateand apart from the envelope containing the explosive is shown in FIGURE10. In this connector, the non-deformable member 141 is of generallyU-shape having a base 143 and side walls 145 with a. longitudinallyextending opening 147 defined by the side walls. Longitudinallyextending slots 149 are provided in the side walls adjacent the base 143to receive an envelope 151 containing explosive and another set ofsimilar slots 153 are provided in the side walls adjacent the opening147 to receive a bridging member 155. The bridging member 155 may behumped in the manner shown in the drawing to provide more space betweenthe side walls 145 for wires. An opening 157 is provided in the base 143for an ignitor 159. In this connector, the envelope 151 may beprepositioned in the slot 149, the wires may be placed between the sidewalls through the opening 147 and the bridging member 155 may be slidinto place.

FIGURES 11 and 12 show a connector for use in wet locations and by whatis known as the hot stick method. The connector is similar to that shownin FIGURE 10 in that a non-deformable body member 141 utilizes abridging member 155 adjacent an opening 147 into the member with anenvelope 151 positioned adjoining the base 143 of the member. Aninsulating plastic covering material 171 is provided for the member 141and an interlocking insulating plastic covering material 173 is providedfor the bridging member. These covering materials may dove tail togetheras shown in the drawing. As is seen in FIGURE 12, the ends of theplastic covering may be taped at 175 to close the ends after actuation.The explosive envelope may be ignited by an ignitor 177 which isactuated by an abrasive tape 179. The ignitor is actuated by pulling thetape which-slides the tape across the ignitor member. The tape may bepulled by an element of the hot stick designed for this specificpurpose.

FIGURE 13 shows a connector assembly intended for use as an endconnector. In this connector, the nondeformable body 181 has a fiat,longitudinally extending portion 183 formed integrally with the base 185of the member and in which an opening 187 is formed. The opening may beattached to a supporting structure by suitable fastening means. Thewalls 189 of the nondeformable member are provided with longitudinallyextending slots 191 to receive a bridging member and an explosivecontaining envelope. Another form of end connector is shown in FIGURE14. In this form, a nondeformable member 201 of generally U-shapedcrosssection has a threaded opening 203 in one end of the base portion205 thereof. A threaded fastener 207 or a fastener 209 with a ball 211may be threaded in this opening to attach the end connector to asuitable structure.

Another form of clamp-type connector not requiring a bridging member isshown in FIGURE 15. In this form, the non-deformable member 221 has aring-shaped crosssection tthat is almost annular. The side walls 223have converging portions 225 which are spaced apart to define alongitudinal passage 227 wide enough to permit the insertion of only asingle wire at a time into the space 229 between the side walls 223.Slots 231 are formed in the side walls 223 to receive an envelope 233which may be slid therein. The envelope 233 has its ends folded on itsside away from the side facing the wire containing space 229. The edgesof the folded over ends of the envelope 223 contact the convergingportions 225 of the side walls of the non-deformable member 221 when theenvelope is positioned in the slots 23]. Thus, the tensile strength ofthe envelope 233 is added to the beam strength of the convergingportions 225 of the nondeformable member 221. An ignitor 235 is providedin an opening (not shown) which extends through one converging portion225 of the side walls.

The connector shown in FIGURES 16 and 17 utilizes a wedging or clampingblock 241 between the explosive containing envelope 243 and the wires tobe joined together (which are not shown). This connector includes agenerally U-shaped non-deformable member 245 having a base portion 247and side walls 249 with opposed longitudinally extending slots 251formed in the side walls. The slots receive the bridging member 253which holds and supports the explosive containing envelope 243. Keyingslots 255 are formed in the side walls 249 facing the longitudinalopening 257. The wedging or clamping member 241 fits inside thenon-deformable member 245 and has an arcuate portion 259 which isadapted to engage the wires inserted into the non-deformable member. Theclamping member also has tab portions 261 which are positioned outwardlyof and engage the ends of the side walls 249 of the non-deformablemember to hold the wedging member in relation to the non-deformablemember. An ignitor 263 fits into the bridging member 235.

The wires (not shown) are first inserted in the body 245 through theopening 257. Then, the Wedging member 241 is inserted in the body abovethe wires and the bridging member 253 containing the explosive envelope243 is slid into position in the longitudinally extending slots 251.Upon setting off of the explosive, the envelope 243 will swell into thekeying slots 255 and will move the wedging member 241, forcing it intoengagement with the wires.

Whereas several embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it should be understood that there are manymodifications, substitutions and alterations thereto which may be madeby one skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for attachment to at least one wire or the likeincluding:

an elongated closure member defining a chamber for receiving at leastone wire or the like,

a longitudinally extending opening into said chamber formed in saidenclosure member with said opening having a width sufficient to permitthe insertion of at least one wire at a time therethrough and into thechamber,

an expandable envelope positioned in said chamber with said envelopecontaining an explosive adapted, upon ignition, to expand said envelopein the chamber so as to lock the enclosure member to a wire or the likepositioned in the chamber.

2. The strucutre of claim 1 further characterized in that said envelopeis positioned across said longitudinally extending opening to saidchamber.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that a movablewedging member is positioned adjacent said envelope and inwardlythereof.

4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that notches areformed in said enclosure member adjacent said longitudinally extendingopening and said envelope is supported in said notches.

5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that a generallynon-deformable bridging member is positioned across said longitudinallyextending opening to said chamber.

6. The structure of claim 5 further characterized in that said envelopeis positioned adjacent to said bridging member and inwardly thereof.

7. The structure of claim 5 further characterized in that notches areformed in said enclosure member adjacent said longitudinally extendingopening and said bridging member and said envelope are supported in saidnotches.

8. The structure of claim 5 further characterized in that said notchesare formed in said closure member adjacent said opening and saidbridging member is supported in said notches and said envelope issupported by said bridging member.

9. The structure of claim 5 further characterized in that a primer forsaid explosive containing envelope is located in said bridging memberand in contact with said envelope.

10. A connector for attachment to at least one wire or the likeincluding:

an elongated enclosure member of generally annular shape defining achamber for receiving at least one wire or the like,

an expandable envelope positioned in said chamber against the annularclosure member with said envelope containing an explosive adapted, uponignition, to expand said envelope in said chamber so as to lock theenclosure member to a wire or the like positioned in said chamber, and

a primer for said explosive extending through said annular closuremember and into contact with said envelope.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1959 Modrey 174-94 XR 7/1963Modrey 174-94 DARRELL L. CLAY, Primary *Examiner

